Car-fender



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L; DULLIGA'N.

GAR FENDER. v No. 548,300. Patented Oct. 22, 1895.

ANDREW BJHMHAM. PHCTJ-UTNQWMNINGTDRRC.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. DULLI GAN. UAR FVENDER.

No. 548,300. Patented 0015.32, 1895.

ANDREW & GPAMM PHOTO-[IMO WASHINGTONDC Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFI E.

LAWRENCE DULLIGAN, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

CAR-FENDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,300, dated October 22, 1895.

Application filed July 31, 1895. Serial No. 557,741- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, LAWRENCE DULLIGAN, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Oar-Fenders; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-letters marked thereon.

My. present invention has for its object to provide an improved fender or life-saving attachment for electric or cable cars, particularly of the general type contained in my Patent No. 542,877, granted July 16, 1895, in which the fender is adapted to be projected in front of the car when the motorman or operator observes a' person or obstruction upon the track in danger of being struck by the car; and it consists in certain improvements in construction and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter fully described, and the novel features pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the front portion of a car provided with my improved fender; Fig. 2, a bottom plan view of the front of the car; Fig. 3, a front elevation; Fig. 4:, a sectional view on the line at a; of Fig. 2.

Similar reference-letters in the several figures indicate similar parts.

I have shown in the drawings only one end of a car provided with my fender, A indicating the front platform, A the dash, and A the supporting-wheels. Secured to the under side of the car-platform and arranged on opposite sides thereof are two bars B, supported upon brackets B and constituting ways upon which the frame carrying the net or fender slides, said frame embodying slides or sleeves O, to which are pivoted the forwardly-extendin g bars D, having at their forward end a somewhat-yielding cross-bar D and also small wheels D adapted to rest upon the track. Just in rear ofthe buffer or cross-bar D is a rotary shaft E, having arms E thereon and connected at its lower portion to the net, said connection being preferably forward of 'the center of said cross-bar, which latter is turned backward by a spring, as shown in my beforementioned patent, the tendency of said spring being to turn the shaft to the position shown in Fig. 4; but when a person falls into the net the shaft will be turned to the position shown in dotted lines against the tension of the spring, throwing the arms E upward and forward and preventing his rolling out of the net. are contained in my before-mentioned patent. The net F is provided with an aperture F, the extreme ends being attached to bars F resting in open brackets F attached to the dash, said aperture F being for the accommodation of the draw-head G when the net-frame is retracted, as in Figs. 1 and 3; but when the frame is projected, as in dotted lines in Fig. 1, this aperture is covered by an auxiliary net G, having on its lower end a cross-bar G attached by cords G to the lower portion of the frame, while the upper portion of said auxiliary net is attached to a roller G containing a spring G one. end of which is connected to said roller and the other to the central shaft or arbor G6 therein, having squared ends resting in open brackets H on the dash. This spring-roller is essentially like the ordinary spring-roller window-shades, and the tendency of the spring is to normally elevate the auxiliary net and open the aperture, but the length of the cords G is such that when the fender-frame is projected it will be closed over the aperture F, and when the frame is retracted the springs will elevate said auxiliary net, permitting access to the draw-head G for coupling a trailer, for instance.

' Arranged beneath the platform A are brackets J, having at their lower ends rollers J, upon which the side bars D of the frame are supported when retracted, so that the frame will be elevated above the track, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. Connected to the slides O is an endless chain or belt K, passing over the pulley K at the forward end and over the pulley (preferably a sprocket) K at the rear of the guide B, which pulley is attached to a wheel L, preferably having a rubber-covered periphery and mounted in the ends of levers M, pivoted to brackets M, the rear ends of said levers being operated upon by springs N, the tendency of said springs being to hold the friction-wheel L normally out of contact with the supporting-wheel A These parts are essentially the same as v of the car, but to permit said friction-wheels to be brought into contact with the wheels A against the tension of the springs, causing the slides to be moved forward on the ways by said wheels A and projecting the frame, as in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The means for operating the levers M consists, in the present instance, of rods 0, connecting the levers, and arms 0 on arock-shaft 0 arranged at the forward portion of the vehicle, to which rock-shaft is connected an arm P, connected to a vertically-movable treadle P, arranged with its upper end in convenient position to be operated upon by the motorman. The treadle P is provided with a notch 19, with which is adapted to engage a catch or retainer Q, in the form of a lever, normally pressed toward the treadle by a spring Q, so that when the treadle is depressed the catch will automatically engage it and retain the wheels L and A in contact; but in order that the connection between said wheels may be disconnected when the fenderframe is moved nearly to its forward position I arrange upon one of the slides a projection R, adapted to strike the outer end of the retainer Q, releasing it from the treadle and allowing the springs N, operating through the parts described, to disconnect the wheels L from the wheels A Attached to the ends of the rock-shaft O are catches S, thelower ends of which are provided with notches 8, adapted to engage projections S, arranged on the slides, and as the rock-shaft is operated inediately by the springs N when the net-frame is to be projected forward it will be caught and retained by them.

The operation of the device will now be understood, the normal position of the fender being shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and when the motorman sees an obstruction or person upon the track liable to be struck by the car he presses down the treadle P, causing the engagement of the wheels L with the supporting-wheels A of the vehicle and through the means described, the projection of the fender to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 4, the aperture in the fender or net being covered by the auxiliary net, which is drawn down as described, and the fender-frame being retained by the catches S and disconnected from the devices for projecting it by the release of the catch Q, as described. hen the not has accomplished its purpose and it is desired to retract it, the operator presses the treadle P, engaging the wheels L with the supporting-wheels again and runs the car backward for a short distance, a very few feet being necessary for this purpose, and when the fender is fully retracted he presses upon the end of the catchreleasing lever T, (see Fig. 4,) perniittingthe disconnection of the wheels, the parts being returned to normal position.

In order that the fender may be held down with the rollers D upon the track when projected, I provide springs U on the forward brackets B, arranged to press upon the arms D, as shown.

This fender is simple and cheap in construction and being normally retracted is out of the way under ordinary conditions and permits ready access to be had to the draw-heads of a car, though it is capable of being moved to operative position by the operator when necessary.

Although I prefer to employ the flexible net, as shown, I do not wish to be confined to this particular construction, as any other form of support could be applied to the fenderframe, and it is not absolutely essential that the upper end of the not project above the level of the bottom of the car, although I prefer this construction, as it prevents forcible contact of the person caught with the front of the car.

The point of engagement between the sliding frame and the releasing-catch for causing its disconnection from the Wheels A should be some distance in rear of the front end of the guides in order that the frame may not be projected so rapidly as to break or injure the device, and I prefer to employ a buffer V, of rubber or other suitable material, upon the ends of the slides C to relieve the fenderframe of shock.

The movable wheel L and the wheels A of the vehicle form in effect aclutch connection, and though I prefer this construction, by reason of its simplicity, itis obvious that other forms could be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Though I prefer to employ two clutch devices itis obvious thatone could be employed to accomplish the projection of the fender; but the device is better balanced by the use of two, and both front supporting-wheels can be utilized.

Instead of the reticulated not shown, of course an imperforate apron of canvas or other material could he used.

I claim as my invention-- 1. The combination with a car, its wheels and the ways on said car, of the fender-frame movable on the ways, the pulleys connected to the frame and serving by their rotation to project it, movable supports for said pulleys, devices for bringing the pulleys in contact with the car-wheels, a catch for holding the pulleys in contact adapted to be released by the movement of the frame, substantially as described.

2. The combination with' a car and its wheels, and ways on said car, of the fenderframe movable on the ways, the pulleys connected to the frame and serving by their rotation to project it, movablesupports forsaid pulleys, devices for bringing the pulleys in contact with the car-wheels, a catch for holding the pulleys in contact adapted to be re leased by the movement of the frame, and a catch for holding the frame projected, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a car and its ICC wheels, and the ways on said car, of the fender-frame movable on the ways, detachable connections between the car-wheels and frame for projecting the latter, a catch for holding the connections in engagement adapted to be released by the frame, and a catch for retaining the frame when projected, substantially as described.

4:. The combination with a car and its Wheels, and the ways on said car, of the fender-frame movable on the ways, a wheel and a movable support therefor, connections between said wheel and the frame for operating the latter on the ways, a retainer for holding the movable support with the wheel in engagement with the car-wheel, adapted to be released by the movement of the fender-frame, and a catch for holding the fender-frame projected, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a car and its wheels, and the ways on said car, of the fender-frame movable on the ways, the wheel and a movable support therefor, the chain connected to the frame at opposite ends and engaging the wheel, a retainer for the movable support when actuated, adapted to be released by the movement of the frame, and a catch for holding the frame projected, connected to and movable with the wheel support, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the car,its wheels, and the ways on said car, of the fender-frame sliding on the ways, the two chains connected at opposite ends to the frame, the two pulleys, the movable pulley-supports connected for simultaneous operation, the retainer for the supports adapted to be released by the movement of the frame, and catches engaging the frame connected to and movable with the pulley-supports, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the car, the ways thereon, and the draw-head, of the fenderframe movable on the ways,the flexible apron having the aperture and connected to the frame, the auxiliary flexible apron adapted to cover the aperture, the spring-roller to which it is connected, and connections between the frame and the lower end of the auxiliary apron, substantially. as described.

8. The combination with the car and its wheels, and the ways on said car, of the fender-frame, the levers pivoted on the car, and the springs operating them, the pulleys on the levers, the chains passing around the pulleys and connected to the fender-frame, the rockshaft connected to the levers and having the catch-arms, the retainer and the spring for operating it, substantially as described.

9. The combination with the car, of the fender-frame, having the side-bars, pivoted and sliding rearwardly on the car, and the trackwheels on said fender, the supports at the sides of the frame with which the side-bars engage when retracted, and the springs for moving the forward portion of the bars downwardly when projected, substantially as described.

LAWRENCE DULLIGAN.

Witnesses:

J ENNIE DULLIGAN, F. F. CHURCH. 

